Our Treatments

If you have been advised that your prostate cancer is classified as "High Risk" or after previous treatment has returned, or if your PSA levels are rising after your primary treatment has been completed, you have come to the right place.

The Center For High Risk & Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Our Mission is to offer the most advanced treatment options to men who have high risk prostate cancer or who have suffered a recurrence of their prostate cancer. If you have been advised that your prostate cancer is classified as High Risk (high PSA, Gleason score 8 or greater, or large volume tumor) or after previous treatment has returned, or if your PSA levels are rising after your primary treatment has been completed, you have come to the right place - we can help.

There is now new hope for patients with end stage metastatic prostate cancer who have their disease progressing despite hormonal therapy. This situation is called castrate resistant prostate cancer or CRPC. This is usually the last stage of prostate cancer and the point at which chemotherapy is usually started. Chemotherapy can add a few extra months of life for a patient, but long term responses are rare.

Dr. Onik is currently using a new treatment utilizing the patients own immune system to fight the cancer. Results have been dramatic as shown in the following case study.

His PSA is currently undetectable and his tumors have disappeared on CT scan and ultra sound. His biopsies are now negative.

Before

After

Case study Mr L is a 72 yr old man with a long history of prostate cancer. His cancer return after a radical prostatectomy and then again after radiation. He did well for years on hormonal therapy, but then his cancer started progressing. Despite all therapies including 12 courses of chemotherapy, his disease kept growing and he was literally facing death. Under a compassionate use protocol, he was provided a never before used treatment.

The Journal of Men's Health has published a first of its kind peer-reviewed report of the long term results of Dr. Onik's work in Prostate Focal Therapy using Targeted Cryoablation - and the conclusions are - "the long-term cancer control results of focal cryoablation appear superior in medium- and high-risk patients to radical whole gland treatments, and give patients a better chance to avoid urine leakage and impotence.

Dr. Onik presented the long-term results for patients treated using his approach to Prostate Focal Therapy at the Annual Convention of the Radiological Society of North America and his data shows dramatic advantages over conventional treatments including radical prostatectomy.

FAQs

Do I have to have my whole gland frozen?

No. Focal Therapy using cryoablation (by which we destroy only the tumor within the prostate, not the whole gland), is an option now being offered that has less complications than a full gland treatment and appears to actually a better chance of success in treating your prostate cancer.

Is Radiation-recurrent prostate cancer different from my original tumor that I had before my radiation?

Radiation-recurrent prostate cancer is a deadly disease. Prostate cancer that has recurred after radiation is often times more aggressive than the original tumor the patient had before the radiation. This means that patients should seek targeted local treatment to prevent the cancer from spreading, without needless delay.

Why can't I just have surgery and have the gland removed using the Da Vinci Robot® ?

Radiation causes the tissues around the prostate to get stuck together making it very hard to remove the prostate gland, without causing extensive damage. Radical prostatectomy is therefore usually NOT performed in Radiation-recurrent prostate cancer because of poor cancer control results and very high complication rates. The Da Vinci Robot® has not been proven to help with this situation.

Can I have more radiation to treat my recurrent cancer?

Usually No. Radiation therapists try to give the maximum dose possible the first time you are treated using radiation. Once you have reached that maximum dose no more radiation can safely be given. Additional radiation is usually NOT performed in Radiation-recurrent prostate cancer because of high complication rates.

Is freezing of my prostate cancer (cryoablation) an option after radiation?

Yes. Cryoablation (freezing of the tumor) has been approved for Radiation-recurrent prostate cancer since 2001 and is part of the NCCN 2011 (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) recommendations for patients with Radiation-recurrent prostate cancer. It is the only ablation modality approved for this indication (HIFU is not FDA approved or available in the US.) It works very well and has the lowest complication rates of any of the "salvage" treatments.

How are most men with Radiation-recurrent prostate cancer diagnosed and treated?

Radiation-recurrent prostate cancer is indicated by a rising PSA after radiation. While 75% of men with radiation-recurrent prostate cancer are treated, most of them are placed on hormone therapy (chemically castrated). Only 7% are treated with therapies directly to the prostate gland, in an effort to cure the patient. The large majority as a result are being "mis-managed".

I have been placed on hormone therapy. Is that a cure for Radiation-recurrent prostate cancer?

No. Hormonal therapy is NOT A CURE for radiation-recurrent prostate cancer. Moreover, it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and is associated with other significant side effects which can effect a patient's health and quality of life.

I have metastatic disease and I am on hormone. My PSA is rising. Can you help me?